CAHSEE scores show most students passing in Placer Union

Most Placer Union High School District schools are seeing almost 100 percent passing California High School Exit Exam scores.
High school students are first given the exit exam, or CAHSEE, in 10th grade. Those who do not receive passing scores on certain portions can retest in 11th and 12th grade. Students must receive passing scores on the exam to get their high school diplomas, according to the California Department of Education.
The CAHSEE tests mathematics through 92 multiple-choice questions and English-language arts through 79 multiple-choice questions and one essay, according to the Department of Education.
On Wednesday, the department released the scores for the 2010-2011 school year.
Most of the scores from the Placer Union High School District showed 90 percent or more of students passed the tests. At Chana High School in Auburn, 70 percent of students passed the mathematics portion, and 71 percent passed the English-language arts portion.
Peter Efstathiu, principal of Placer High School, said 95 percent is the best the school has ever done on the math portion of the test.
“The test scores basically are just indicative of the hard work the students and teachers put forward that year,” Efstathiu said.
Efstathiu said he and Assistant Principal Kim Barry made classroom visits to the sophomores last year, talking about the importance of the test. He said the students really stepped up.
For a closer look at the results, visit cahsee.cde.ca.gov.
~Bridget Jones
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CAHSEE results by school in the Placer Union High School District
Placer High School
Percentage of students passed math: 95 percent
Percentage of students passed English-language arts: 90 percent
Maidu High School
Percentage of students passed math: 95 percent
Percentage of students passed English-language arts: 95 percent
Chana High School
Percentage of students passed math: 70 percent
Percentage of students passed English-language arts: 71 percent
Foresthill High School
Percentage of students passed math: 98 percent
Percentage of students passed English-language arts: 95 percent
Colfax High School
Percentage of students passed math: 98 percent
Percentage of students passed English-language arts: 96 percent
Del Oro High School
Percentage of students passed math: 99 percent
Percentage of students passed English-language arts: 97 percent